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Author
Topic: I was just diagnosed and I am going nuts. (Read 3663 times)

Truly, I mean truly, how long am I going to live with this? I am on Atripla and my cd4 has doubled since I have taken it, and it has only been one month, but how long is it going to last where everything is fine? How long am I going to live with this? My doctor says I will live just as long as anybody else, but for some reason I do not belive her, can anybody who knows a lot about this tell me whats the truth?

How long is a piece of string? There really is no simple answer. Everyone reacts to this virus and even the meds used to treat it a little differently. Chances are really, really good that you will live a normal or nearly normal lifespan. But as with anything, there are more variables than I can list.

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"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

Chances are really, really good that you will live a normal or nearly normal lifespan.

+ 100. In all likelihood you'll be fine and live a long life. Stay adherent with your prescribed meds, take care of yourself, and try not to obsess over the future. I know for me that the first six months/year were the toughest mentally. The meds worked well and quickly were able to suppress my virus. It took a while to wrap my head around the diagnosis though.

You took a great first step in admitting your fears for the future. Keep coming back and let us know how you're doing. It does get better in the long run.

Toad

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Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly,Kiss slowly, Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, And never regret anything that made you smile.

As long as you pay attention to where the buses are when you cross the road and otherwise take care of yourself, you can expect to live as long as anyone else. Like JK said, how long is a piece of string? He stole that line from me anyway.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Can't really add much to what the guys have already said, as they have said everyone is different and there are no set answers on our life expectancy, many will agree that survival can be several decades or longer if there are continued improvements in treatment.

There are some factors which can determine how long we live with HIV..if you abide by them:

..Look after yourself emotionally and physically...Making the right desicions around treatment...Finding out how well the treatments will work for you.

These are just some of the things you can do to improve your health..it's up to you on how much control you take for your own health and welfare.

Like the guys said, "how long is a piece of string"..I stole that from JK also who apparently stole it from Ann...

The keye for a long fruitfull life is adherence and from i gathered from the lts group is enjoy and live life cry and lagh as much as you want... I too started atripla just over a month and there are days that i just wonder then i begin to laugh and gratefull for the moments that i have.. You never know what tomorrow will bring but you have already taken the biggest step of your life now its upto you.. The folks on this site are your greatest support whenever you ask or need it...

Hi barbch2:Welcome to the forums --- I agree with what everyone else has said -I am a firm believer that attitude also goes a long way towards having good health. I was diagnosed just over two years ago and have been on meds for just over a year. I try my best to maintain a positive attitude. I make sure that I get rest when I need rest, get out and have fun when I need to get out and have fun, share with others my hapiness and my frustrations, and live each moment - as much as possible - not like it is the last, but like it is the first.

One of my favorite songs is Seasons of Love from RENT - "525,600 minutes..... how do you measure, measure a year? In sunsets, in daylights, in cups of coffee....."

Enjoy life --- with today's treatments; taking good care of one's self; and keeping positive attitude - you can probably expect to have an average lifespan. I am still trying to figure out the "how long is a string" saying ---- that, in and of itself, should keep me occupied for a pretty long time.

I just wanted to confirm what everybody already said. It'll take a while, but you eventually learn that quality is greater than quantity. I was infected shortly after starting college and now am in my 40's. Welcome to the forums.

Greg

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Complacency is the enemy. Challenge yourself daily for maximum return on investment.

You're actually doing better than you may realize right now. It takes time to get adjusted to the changes in your life. And at some point you're just going to realize that life IS going on. Remember you have supportive and experienced friends here whom you can always talk to about anything that is on your mind. And I mean ANYTHING.

As for how long is a piece of string, next time I am going to patent my inventions. They all stole that one from me.*

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

i am co-infected (hiv and hep C).. i freaked when i got the hep c diagnosis (got the hiv one 4-2004..hep 4-2009.. yea april isnt a good month).. LOL.. anyway my gastro doc said i'd die from getting hit by a bus before i die of hep.. and being co-infected.. poses problems.. both times.. i cried for a few hours and then was like ok i'm over this.. i gotta go on and i want to live a long life.. i take my hiv meds like a good boy and they work..

Yeah I am on here, I just have a hard time logging onto here. I always have to refer back to my initial e mail to click activate, and then it lets me in, the password that I chose does not work for some reason.

Andy, you do realize that when I read that, I put you in a Joy Behar costume. My morning OJ makes my keyboard sticky when I do a spit-take

And thanks for checking back in, Barb. You are doing stunningly well. It's the people who DON'T go a little crazy at first that really worry me. I took a leisurely six months to be isolated, depressed, and more or less a total nutjob when I was first diagnosed. I was lucky to have goof friends and a good family to help me through.

Failing everything else, you have this bunch <grin>. We are lewd, rude, crude, and generally eat with our collective fingers. But a more loyal and supportive crowd is not to be found anywhere else on the internet.

Ann and Andy are shining stars in an already glittering sea, and you can take just about any advice Matty gives you to the bank. I am honored to call these people friends, and thrilled that you have found this place.

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"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

Yeah I am on here, I just have a hard time logging onto here. I always have to refer back to my initial e mail to click activate, and then it lets me in, the password that I chose does not work for some reason.

I've sent you a Personal Message about this. If you don't know how to access your PMs, look at the links under your name in the top-left-hand column of any forum page. Click on the first one that says "PM".

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts